Casey Bond

Name

Year

Credit

credited As

Beth Dubber/FOX
Cue screaming:
Mindy and Danny finally kissed, and to celebrate I've compiled a list of The Mindy Project's most adorable, shippiest scenes.
Jordin Althaus/FOX
5. Mindy spends the night at Danny's
Um, can you say adorable? Pretty much all of "You've Got Sext" was full to the brim with squee-inducing Mindy / Danny goodness. The way he's freaking out about the fact that she might have a crush on him? The way she sets up camp in his bed and giggles at mating frogs on the Nature Channel? The way he tells her over pancakes that her workplace crush is not out of her league because she's "great"? I LOVE IT.
4. Danny Castellano is the best personal trainer
In "Danny Castellano Is My Personal Trainer," how sweet is it that, as Mindy's listing all the ways she could improve her body (getting rid of cellulite, having a boob job, and magically gaining blue eyes are all at the top of her list), Danny shuts down her low self-esteem with a simple "I don't want that." He then goes on to tell her, "You're a woman and that's good; look like a woman." How far they've come since the pilot.
Also, that shot of Mindy staring Danny's junk right down the barrel and subsequently screaming in terror was hilarious.
3. The pre-Haiti near-kiss
In "Take Me With You," Mindy and Danny share a heart to heart in the lounge – he's comforting her in his slightly abrasive Danny way (by teasing her about her pixie cut), when he stops to take some "schmutz" off of her glasses. The result? Their faces are too close! They hold eye contact for too long! Alert, alert! Alas, Mindy has to go and ruin the lovely moment by announcing that she's back together with Casey.
2. Danny's dance (AKA kiss close call take 2)
Um, he choreographed a dance. To a song he hates. If that doesn't spell "true love," I don't know what does. His dance to Aaliyah's "Try Again" was pure gold, and the overlong hug and meaningful stare that followed? Even better. Darn you, Peter Prentice, for interrupting that.
1. The first kiss
Okay, okay, be cool guys, it finally happened. Their airplane kiss was just what the doctor ordered for this slow burn, and that little When Harry Met Sally button on the episode? Perfect, as was the little title card reading, "Happily Ever After?" We know it won't be smooth sailing for these two, but who cares? They kissed!
And now we have to wait until April to see what happens next. Grr.
So what are your favorite Mindy / Danny moments? Share them in the comments!
Follow @Hollywood_com
//

Relativity Media
There's a wealth of material for filmmakers to pry out of the troubles that America has faced in the past decade. The depressed economy, the plight of the returning soldier, and the loss of American industry have all informed the plots of many of the best films written in the past couple years. In his second directorial effort, Out of the Furnace, filmmaker Scott Cooper attempts to turn the myriad of America’s most pressing issues into a story set in the backdrop of the country’s hard suffering Rust Belt, but he comes away with a merely competent dramatic thriller that clearly aspired to be something grander.
In the film, Christian Bale plays the hardworking and upstanding Russell Baze, an almost impossibly good-natured man who has worked in the local steel mill his entire life, and had planned, just like his ailing father, to do so until the day he died. But when the steel mill is scheduled to close, Baze's way of life as well as the town itself is crippled. Casey Affleck plays Russell's sensitive brother Rodney, whose tours in Iraq have left him emotionally eruptive and dissatisfied with his brother’s working man existence; Rodney would rather spend his time competing in underground fighting rings where he can still feel something. Rodney soon finds himself wrapped up in violent and reactionary crime ring that doesn't take kindly to strangers. It’s up to Russell to save his brother from the grips of the areas most terrifying criminals
Out of the Furnace is appealingly glum. Cooper finds beauty in the rolling hills and crumbling infrastructure of small town Pennsylvania, and the film fully embraces the derelict beauty of its settings, down to even the homes and the cars that the characters own. The film clearly prides itself on feeling authentic and it reaches its goals visually — at the very least.
The relationship between the brothers Baze also feels remarkably authentic. Both Bale and Affleck sell the relationship deftly, and have an almost tangible amount of on-screen chemistry that expresses their bond for each other in a way that no script could. This chemistry makes the scenes where Rodney has gone missing burn with terrific dramatic intensity.
There’s a quiet desperation in these people. Though they may be hopeful and happy in their set paths, there’s a feeling that they’re all walking along streets heading nowhere. America isn’t the land of opportunity anymore, not for the soldiers or the factory workers. The only thriving ones seem to be the criminals like Woody Harrelson’s Curtis Degroat, who is so overarchingly villainous that the only thing the character is missing is a dastardly moustache to twirl.
Relativity Media
And this is the big issue with Out of the Furnace. While Harrelson’s performance is at times chilling, the script often dovetails Degroat into an overdone cartoon bad guy, and this weak characterization flows through a lot of the characters and seriously undermines a lot of the authenticity that the film believes itself to be built upon. There's a particularly groan-inducing scene where Degroat decries the human race in the gruffest voice he can muster. Woody’s Degroat character, and most of the others in the film, aren’t so much developed characters, but act more like clichéd archetypes in Cooper’s parable about a broken America. Degroat is simply the bad guy, and not characterized beyond that one-dimensional role in this story. Affleck’s wounded war veteran feels overwrought as well, with many of his scenes laying down the melodrama in thick sheets, particularly when he’s discussing the terrors he’s faced in the war oversees.
Out of the Furnace has a lot of things on its mind about the state of America’s small towns and working class heroes, but it doesn’t know the best way to express itself, and while some of it’s sentiments ring true others clank harshly like an off-note. The remarkable cast does its best to prop up a film that wants to tell a great American story, but it only manages to tell a fairly middling one.
2.5/5
Follow @Hollywood_com
//

MTV
After 21 years of camera-fueled drama, MTV has decided to add another twist to The Real World formula. According to Entertainment Weekly, the 29th season of the popular reality show will star seven strangers living in a house together with... their exes.
Aptly called The Real World: Ex-Plosion, the show will start with seven (probably attractive) people from around the country living in an insanely gorgeous home — this season the show will take place in San Francisco — forcing them to bond with each other (or, you know, completely want to rip each other's hair out). But to the cast members' surprise, when they return from a day trip, they'll find their lovely exes living with them in their home. TWIST.
Now, while you might be bringing your palm to your forehead and wondering what society has come to, let's just pause and think about this for a second. If we had to deal with a 29th season of the show anyways, why not change things up a little bit? People initially got into the show because it was real life drama that they could watch and live through vicariously. But as the years have gone by, the drama has become somewhat predictable. So why not bring exes in? Almost everyone can relate to drama with exes (unfortunately). And what better way for the once-couples to get complete closure (or have post-break-up sex) than on a TV show watched by millions of people? Perfect.
“When we cast people we usually always try to cast single people,” said Jonathan Murray, the co-creator of the reality show. “And they’d say they were single during the casting process. Then the moment they arrived at the house suddenly their ex was back in their life. I don’t know if it’s a safety blanket or that we’re never really done with our exes. When you talk about the age of our cast, their ex is often their first love — they play a huge role in their life.” Nicely played, Murray. Nicely played.
But hey, as long as there's still a hot tub to heat up excessive, juicy gossip in, the show won't be that different.
Follow @CaseyRackham
//
Follow @hollywood_com
//

FOX
So long Brad, and hello Coach. It's official: Happy Endings alum Damon Wayans Jr. has signed on for the rest of Season 3 of New Girl, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Wayans, who recently finished a three-season run as Brad on Happy Endings, is set to extend his initial six-episode arc as Coach on New Girl, the character he played in the show's pilot in 2011. While he is just considered a special guest star, there is always chance that he'll become a series regular if we get a Season 4. So for now, it looks like the gang just got a little bit bigger. But is that a good thing?
If Coach's influence on Nick, Jess, Schmidt, and Winston during this week's episode, which is aptly titled "Coach," is a sign of what's to come, then things aren't looking good. Coach came back into town with a mission to bro-up the place, and he definitely did just that by taking the guys out to a strip club and labeling Jess as a nag. The upside is that by the end of the episode, the guys stood up to his partying ways and seemed to draw a line of what they're willing to do now that they're "growing up." So with Coach put in place (for now), we're interested to see what kind of effect he'll have on the loft friends as the season progresses.
Here's how Coach could shape the New Girl regulars:
JessSo far, Coach has done nothing but make fun of Jess. If he's going to make fun of her, at least make the target her quirkiness. Instead of having Coach latch onto Jess' "limitations" on Nick because she's his girlfriend and making her out to be the villain, the writers might take his return as a chance to bring back Jess' adorkable ways that have been blatantly missing from this season. What might work would be having an episode with a plot line just for Jess and Coach so that the audience can see them bond and make a real connection that we can believe in. We already know that he has a past with the other three characters, now we need a friendship to form between him and Jess. And in the process, hopefully he can draw out some of her quirkiness.
NickPlease, please, please don’t let Coach turn Nick into a misogynist pig. Nick has enough bad personality traits as it is, but being a willful jerk is not one of them. If he's going to be a dud, we'd rather his stupidity come from his own inability to function as an adult than from the influence of Coach. Maybe Coach can somehow bring back curmudgeonly Nick and help him move on from being an adolescent boy who can’t figure out life. The good news is that Nick flat-out told Coach that he can't handle Coach's strip-club lifestyle, so maybe that means he won't be mesmerized by Coach's douche tendencies (we've already got Schmidt for that).
SchmidtHonestly, Coach didn't really change Schmidt's personality too much during the episode, but that might not be a good thing. It's no surprise that Schmidt has been a serious d-bag this season, and it's time to finally kick jerk-Schmidt to curb and bring back the original neurotic character. In the early days of New Girl, Schmidt was threatened by Winston's manly presence (which is no longer existent), so this could be Coach's chance to put Schmidt in his place and show him that he's not as cool as he thinks he is. I think we'd all love to see Schmidt experience a whole lot of tough love.
WinstonCoach spent this week's episode making fun of Winston, but that's no fun to watch. Winston's new outlook on life and weird quirks are kind of endearing, and Coach shouldn't threaten that. Winston shouldn't be the punching bag of the season, mostly because he's way too easy of a target. If Coach is going to hassle anyone, we hope it’s Schmidt, who actually needs a good kick in the pants. Instead, pairing Coach and Winston together in a situation where they actually get along could be great for the show. Once they see themselves as equals (yes, that means making Winston a little bit less koo-koo), then maybe we can actually get somewhere with their relationship. Also, Winston better not be pushed even more to the side. The writers have successfully moved him to the outskirts of the show and give him a bizarre plotline per episode that never reveals anything about his character besides the fact that he might have marbles for brains. He’s an underutilized character, and the return of Coach should be an excuse to flesh out Winston's character, not hide it in the corner.
But in the end, Coach shouldn't be the writer's solution to the show's problems. They can't rely on an additional character to make things like the good ol' days of New Girl. It's just like what people say about failing marriages: adding a child to the mix won't fix the issues you already have. Adding Coach to the marriage that is Nick, Jess, Schmidt, and Winston will just hurt their relationships unless the writers find an organic way to blend him back into the group. We want Wayans to stay on the series for as long as he possibly can (because he's a great comedic actor), but not if his role is going to hurt the show.
Follow @CaseyRackham
//
Follow @hollywood_com
//

Beth Dubber/FOX
In the first season of Mindy Kaling's highly anticipated series The Mindy Project, audiences didn't quite know what to make of her titular alter ego. The show struggled to give Mindy Lahiri the flaws that would keep the awkward situations and graceless pratfalls coming, while also endearing her to us. The show started to hit its stride towards the end of season one, and Mindy became less of a manic-pixie-dreamgirl version of Kelly Kapoor and more like a fully fleshed-out character in her own right. Well done, show.
What's never been in question, however, is the sheer, unadulterated dreaminess of the character who we all know is meant to be Mindy's endgame love interest: Danny Castellano. Doctor Danny Castellano, if you please.
Chris Messina is one of those actors who seems suddeny ubiquitous, though he's been steadily working for quite a while. Last year was his TV breakout; he made his mark not only in this tentpole Fox comedy, but also in premium cable drama, playing Reese Lansing on The Newsroom. The double duty gives us the opportunity to see the variety in the way Messina plays frustration. Reese is a churlish rich kid. But Danny's grumpiness is one of his most appealing traits. The more annoyed Danny gets with the shenanigans that pervade his office, the harder we swoon.
Dr. Castellano — he claims — just wants everyone to get to work and leave him alone. But then he's curiously game to get on board with his coworkers' sitcom schemes, even if he complains the whole time. He would rather stick pins in his eyes than talk about his feelings, and he's still not sure if The Colbert Report is a satire or not. But Danny's a good friend to Mindy, who has realized that his boldfaced honesty is well-intentioned and valuable. They make excellent partners in crime, and he's perfecting that look — the Mr. Darcy look that has us screaming at Mindy to get her to notice. He also sweats a lot, but he's birthing babies here, people. It's hard work.
When we last left Danny, he was making another go of it with his ex-wife Christina (Chloë Sevigny) after Mindy decided to go with her minister boyfriend Casey to Haiti. We'll catch up with them on The Mindy Project second season premiere, which is available right now on Hulu and iTunes and airs on Fox Tuesday, September 17 at 9:30 PM ET.
Follow @Hollywood_com
//
More:'Bones' and Awesomely Awkward Product PlacementHollywood's Ongoing Case of Anglophilia'The Walking Dead' Gets A New Companion Series
From Our PartnersStars Pose Naked for 'Allure' (Celebuzz)20 Grisliest TV Deaths of 2012-2013 (Vulture)

Get ready, Nikita fans: The CW has been keeping the return of a beloved character under wraps — until now. Devon Sawa tells Hollywood.com that the Friday, Feb. 1 episode, "Survival Instincts," will have you screaming, "I didn't know Percy was coming back from the dead as a zombie! What?!"
Okay, fine, that was a joke. "That doesn't happen," Sawa clarifies. "But it could! You never know."
Here's what will happen on this week's episode, which sees Owen and Nikita (Maggie Q) team up in the field once again, now that Michael's (Shane West) hand injury (understatement, yes) has forced him to take an operational role once again: "Owen is in a new world," Sawa says. "He's used to working solo. He's used to doing things brutish and thuggish, and he's now learning to be a team player. Michael's kind of coaching him through it. The first scene in this episode is in an art gallery, and Owen would never be in an art gallery. This is Michael's world. Michael's the guy that knows what drink to order at the bar, and what to say to the ladies, and how to be undercover. Owen's trying to listen to him; he's trying to figure it out. Michael is trying to coach him."
But yes, there is a little bit of tension in the air now that Michael and Nikita are having some relationship problems. "There's some tension going on because of course Michael doesn't want his fiancée off on missions with this guy," he says. But in Sawa's opinion, there's nothing going on between Owen and Nikita. "Owen has a lot of respect for Nikita. They have a past; they come from the same world; they're both trying to figure out this Division thing. I'm far ahead and in my opinion, there's really no romance going on. They're just partners and friends."
Well, what about Alex (Lyndsy Fonseca)? Sawa says that in an upcoming episode, she and Owen will finally get a chance to bond. "That's their first time kind of out in the field, and they're two really strong characters. We're stuck in a car and we're getting to know each other. That's kind of fun. There's going to be a couple more missions with Nikita, and there's some big Ari stuff coming up."
In the Alex episode, the ever-serious Owen might even let down his guard a little bit. "Alex is one character Owen doesn't know very well. The episode that we're going to do, they have some laughs, they go out, and he's beginning to get to know her. He loosens up. Alex and Owen have a conversation where Owen kind of attempts a joke, and it's funny only because it was awkward. It's a cool little car ride. What makes it interesting is that Sean is listening to the whole thing from his head set, so he starts getting a little bit concerned about Owen as well. So Michael and Sean are concerned at different times."
Frankly, Sawa thinks Owen has better things to think about than romance. "The main thing on Owen's mind is trying to find Amanda so he can figure out his past," he says. "I don't know whether he's looking for love. He doesn't know who he was. The woman on the top of his list is Amanda. That's who he wants to find because he's got questions for her. I think that Michael and Nikita are pretty safe in the next few episodes. I don't know what's going to happen in the future. I think they just throw Owen in there to create a whole bunch of ruckus. It's all coming from a good place, I think. He's not trying to destroy. He's not Susie Homewrecker or anything."
As for male friendships, Owen and Sean (Dillon Casey) will have their very first encounter in tonight's episode. "It's the first time Sean and Owen ever meet. They meet in a very awkward place. There's all this stuff going on but they both pick a moment to look at each other, size each other up, feel each other out. We have some exchanges along the way that are a little bit tense and heated because we're both thuggish dudes. It's the opposite of a bromance."
Nikita airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on The CW.
Follow Jean on Twitter @hijean
[PHOTO CREDIT: Ben Mark Holzberg/The CW]
More:
You're Going to Need Tissues for Tonight's 'Nikita'
The Best and Worst TV Deaths and Resurrections of 2012
2013 Renewal Odds for The CW's Shows
You Might Also Like:
Biden? Ford? Surprisingly Hot Young Pics of Politicians
Who Wore This Crazy Hat?
Stars Who Changed Their Look After Love

It's appropriate that Thursday night's Chicago Auditions episode of American Idol opened with a shot of girl losing her mind as her friend exited the audition room. "She made it! Oh my God, she made it!" she screams, jumping up and down as if she's gained a lifetime of energy from her friend's small success. But it all comes crashing down when her friend tells her, the truth is that she didn't make it.
After meeting our judging panel in the season premiere, it seemed we'd learned their ways. They were necessarily ruthless, blunt, but encouraging. But in Chicago, they're unpredictable, crying tears one minute and crying foul the next. We had no idea that when the going got weird, they'd get the cruel giggles - which, in an audition setting is the most soul-wrenching kiss of death. We thought the days of picking a pretty face to go to Hollywood left with Jennifer "Crushalot" Lopez. This panel was on point. It turns out, we had no idea what we were talking about.
We also thought that by adding Keith Urban to the panel, we'd actually have Keith Urban on the panel, but midway through auditions, he's got to fly out for a show minutes after he finally helps us understand why he's there: he's a secret wealth of country music knowledge dating back decades upon decades. Oh, right. He's a country music super star. It's hard to remember that when he's sitting next to the glowing beacon of pop music that is Nicki Minaj.
Before Keith leaves, he gets to witness all the easy auditions... and all the worst of the Nicki and Mariah drama. In fact, they figure out their differences after he leaves. Poor country singer man. Let's hope all that time spent banging your head on your desk didn't leave a bruise.
First up is Mackenzie Wasner from Tennessee, who's got shiny blonde hair and smile like a Welch's Juice kid. The country flower isn't afraid of getting in front of the judges because her papa plays piano for Vince Gill and Gill lets her get up on stage all the time. That's right, she's a pure-bred showboater. Lucky for her, she's got the good to back it up. She belts out a little country song with a mix of strength and vulnerability, and Keith is so enraptured he unconsciously (alright I'm assuming that part because he looked hypnotized) let's out a "yeeeah!" and compares her to Leanne Womack while Mariah's doing everything she can to make and expression that simply says, "Duh (darling)." Just like that, cute little Mackenzie heads off to Hollywood.
After a brief interlude from the first contestant attempting to sing a Mariah song ("Fantasy" "sung" by Austin Earles of Michigan), Nicki finds another opportunity o say she prefers someone awful to Mariah. It was funny and ballsy the first time she did in New York, but now she's just straight-up messing with a lifetime diva, and of all the divas, the one who's invented diva trademarks one through one million. Mariah has earned the right to be the best at what she does, and she's also earned the right to drive Nicki totally bonkers every time an auditioner comes in ready to lay rose petals and Queen Mariah's feet. But to Nicki's credit, some of these girls are a little nuts about it. We were all inspired by Daydream in 1995. Some of us even practiced swishing our hair like Mariah. Let's not all cry about it.
But, the tears keep coming. Especially from Kiara Lanier from Chicago, who's "so grateful" to perform for Mariah that she stops Mariah while the music legend is praising her for her beautiful voice, excellent range, and incredible control to thank her for giving her feedback. It's basically Nicki's nightmare, but the girl's pretty amazing so she concedes when it's time to send her to Hollywood.
Nicki's civility doesn't last long, however, and the fight that leaked to the Internet over the summer is soon instigated over something as silly as a little eye shadow. When Stephanie Schimmel, a pretty, blonde Wisconsinite with a touch of 1950s glam, stops in to sing a gorgeous, jazzy little rendition of "Dream a Little Dream," the judges are all wowed with the exception of Nicki. After the votes are cast and Stephanie's got her golden ticket, Nicki says she likes her and in an explanation that is totally legitimate and not at all complete nonsense, Nicki says she didn't vote for Stephanie because they're wearing the same atomic glitter eyeshadow, so they're in competition. Did I write yesterday that these judges really knew what they were doing? Can I still alter that statement?
This nonsense throws Nicki and Mariah into a verbal duel after Mariah's famous "This is what I deal with at my (forms air quotes) 'job'" quip, leaving poor Keith sitting in the middle with no defense aside from various configurations of cat activities aimed at pointing out that he's literally in the middle of a catfight. "She's been drinking catnip!" he says before his little blonde head is almost lopped off. "I feel like a scratching post!" are the only words he can muster after banging his head on the table for 30 seconds. No wonder he needed a mini escape this episode.
But when the fighting stopped for a mere second, it was because of poor Melissa Bush who decided to perform her song while wearing whatever Elvis would have worn if he was a woman starring in a Saturday Night Fever and Xanadu crossover: a halter-top pink body suit with silver accents and stars everywhere they shouldn't be. Of course she's not a good singer, but it's not her outfit or her lack of talent that the judges (except for Mariah, who broadcast that she was not a part of the joke, so don't even think about it, darling) made fun of. It was her name. It's Bush. Get it? Like that thing that goes over a vagina? See how funny it is? We're definitely not used to hearing that name all the time after having a collected 12 years of history with a man named Bush in the White House. And we didn't hear nearly enough of those jokes for those 12 years.
Keeping with some sort of theme (maybe, kind of, sort of, not at all), we meet Gabe Brown bringer of homemade cookies for the judges and good cheer. (Literally, the guy's got jokes!) He's a hearty gentleman with wild hair, and when he starts singing "Gimme Shelter" like he's rocking out in front of a stadium crowd, you had to know Randy was going to love it. The guy's good, but he runs the risk of pulling a Casey Abrams and running out of places to take that screaming sound. Mariah, who didn't trust his cookies on first sight either, insists on hearing a softer song, but he still ends it his own rocker way. Nonetheless, all four judges send him through to Hollywood.
But clearly, we've enjoyed too much success. Even poor Xanadu girl wasn't spectacularly bad. It's time for the guy who lists what he does as "computer animation, video production, and dancing" and who spends his lead-in video throwing large wooden rods into Lake Michigan and hopping around. I'm not going to lie, I hate "this guy" and the point during every Idol audition circut when he must appear, but the character of "unbelievable weirdo" is an apparent Idol necessity. He sings (or recites like an auctioneer slurring his speech after 10 or so Red Bull Vodkas) "One Week" by Bare Naked Ladies, before moving on to "Sailing" for which he somehow gives his voice the quality of that laser beam that once threatened to saw James Bond in half. It was bad, and luckily Mariah had some resolute advice for the clearly misguidedguy: "It's not for you... probably." I suppose that was her effort to soften the blow, but that could mean he'll come back next year knowing all the words to "One Week" and possessing muscles no larger than his current ones because throwing sticks into lakes is not real exercise.
That's not the last thing poor Keith has to see before he heads out to his very urgent conflicting concert. Luckily, 15-year-old Isabelle Parrell stops in and asks him to sing a few lines of her audition song, "Baby It's Cold Outside," with her, in a move clearly concocted by the same parents who dressed her like Meryl Streep at a luncheon. (She's 15! It's summer! Give the girl a sun dress!) Despite my quarrels with her wardrobe, Isabelle was actually very sweet and she had a great tone with a rather mature sound. Still, she felt a little subdued. Unfortunately, Randy is the only one who agreed with me, and the groupsent her through. She's sweet, but let's face it: she's going to get pummeled during Hollywood week.
As soon as Keith is out the door (or as the editors start splicing in scenes after his departure), Nicki lets her tongue roll out of her head like a horny wolf cartoon. Her series of catcalls ends momentarily with Griffin Peterson from Wisconsin, who is a certifiable babe. When it comes to his voice, he's a dime a dozen singer-songwriter type (we don't need another Tim Urban this season, you guys). But Nicki and Mariah are out of their minds with this guy, leading Nicki to roll out a lecture on how attractive, mildly talented men sell out arenas every day. With Keith gone, Randy is helpless to stop the lust train. And here, we thought these judges were doing so well. That boy is going to get swallowed whole in this competition.

Since Christmas is less than a week away, I wanted to do something special for my fellow TV fanatics. So I gathered up scoop for 6 fantastic shows, stuffed ‘em in an article, and wrapped it all together with a big sparkly bow. This is way better than a candy gram you guys! (Sorry Glenn Coco.) This week’s edition of Leanne’s Spoiler List features exclusive Arrow scoop from the loveable Seth Gabel, upcoming details from the all-knowing Vampire Diaries boss Julie Plec, and hilarious Happy Endings dish from the cast. I also threw in some stocking stuffers from the premieres of Suits, Bunheads and Shameless!
Plus, for the first time ever I answered one of your Twitter questions! I think I’d like to make this a regular thing so don’t forget you can request scoop on your favorite shows using the hashtag #LeannesList. Remember, I give extra point for alacrity and effulgence. Happy Holidays TV Lovers! 1.Arrow: Starling City Pill Pusher
You all know that I love me some Arrow — and that’s not just because Stephen Amell is the closest thing to a perfect human being since Hunter Parrish. Arrow is smart, creative, thrilling, and has a vast repertoire of comic book characters that spice up every episode. (Granted the closest I’ve ever come to a comic book is through the cast of The Big Bang Theory, but hey, I’m sure they’re great!) One of the most highly anticipated Arrow villains is without a doubt Count Vertigo, and what makes it even more exciting is the fact that beloved Fringe alum Seth Gabel will be bringing the antihero to life.
Gabel — who first appears in episode 12, entitled “Vertigo” — explains, “It’s a definite adaptation to this darker, more realistic world that is “Vertigo.” And instead of being an Eastern European count as is depicted in the comic, I am a street thug drug kingpin who doesn’t have superpowers.” The actor continues, “But the superpowers that the character has in the comic book are manifested in the form of the drug called Vertigo, which I push on the citizens of Starling City.” Oh! This is gonna be good, I can tell.
Fans of The CW freshman hit know that Oliver is not particularly focused on the petty street crimes of his city — however, it seems that The Count’s drug dealing might hit a bit too close to home. When I pressed for details, Gabel revealed that The Count would not just be sharing scenes with Arrow/Oliver. Could this be connected to Thea and her drug habits? Gabel was sly with his answer, saying, “Hmm, it’s possible but I can’t say for sure.” I’m just going to go ahead and say with Thea’s less-than stellar track record, I would not be surpised at all if she went on a little superhero drug binder. (P.S. I am in no way obligated to tell you that Gabel’s movie Allegiance is now available on VOD, in theaters on December 28th in New York and January 4th in Los Angeles. Just thought you’d like to know.)
Bunheads: A Gilmore Girls Guest Star!
Bunheads is one of the cutest shows to have ever graced our TV screens, and the fact that reminds me so much of Amy Sherman Palladino’s first great love Gilmore Girls is just icing on the cake. I don’t usually like to admit this, but one of the reasons I wanted to become a journalist is because of Rory Gilmore. So yes, Gilmore Girls will always have a special place in my heart. So you can imagine my squeals of delight when I was watching the Bunheads winter premiere and saw a familiar Stars Hallow face. Remember TJ (Michael DeLuise)? Well, he’s back and more magical than ever! A few months ago I had the pleasure of sitting down with the legendary Sutton Foster to discuss the Bunheads finale, and we gushed on our shared loved of all things Gilmore Girls (Psst! You can check it out right here!). Now I was able to chat with the iconic Broadway legend about what fans can expect from the show’s Jan. 7 premiere. When we last saw Michelle, she had just maced her entire class minutes before their big Nutcracker finale, and she left the hospital full of shame despite the adorable "Oh captain! My captain!" salute the girls gave her. So where is Michelle after the summer jump? “I’ve left Paradise and I’m living in Vegas on a friend’s couch," Foster says. "And working in Henderson, Nevada as a magician’s assistant in a casino. Everyone is kind of at a standstill." I can safely reveal that Michelle does indeed make it back to Paradise, but it does take quite a bit of coaxing, and one adorably sweet video. Foster explains, "It takes several forces to get Michelle to come back, and I think it all boils down to people seeing greatness in Michelle that she actually has to offer that even Michelle doesn’t believe in." But Hubbell does...
3. Suits: Handsome? Party of Two?
Dapper, dashing, and damn he’s sexy. There’s just something about a man in a suit that puts a smile on a girl’s face and daydreams in her head. Luckily, I was able to catch up with my favorite stylish twosome in the Suits winter premiere. When we first see the Pearson Hardman gang for the second half of Season 2, the mood in the office is — how shall I put this? — tense, to say the very least. Morale is less than stellar following the big partnership civil war, especially for Louis. (He was on the losing side of that fight, remember?) With Mike still reeling from the death of his grandmother, the case he and Harvey tackle in the premiere hits especially close to home. Mike lost his parents when they were hit by a drunk driver, so the fact that he's defending a teenage driver who killed a man and fled the scene doesn't exactly sit well with him. But not to worry Suits-lovers! It's not only gloom and doom — there's still room for a little levity thanks to Donna and Louis' romantic tryst with the spunky Sheila Sasz. (Say her name out loud. Laugh. Repeat.) Oh and bee tee dubs, Suits returns to our lives on Thursday, Jan. 17.
4.The Vampire Diaries: Mystic Falls Magic
After last week’s Christmas massacre, many fans (myself included) are dying to know what’s in store for the second half of Season 4. Not only did executive producer Julie Plec reveal an obscene amount of details to Holywood.com about Klaus and the cure, she also shed some light on our new oncam eye-candy Professor Shane. Plec says that the all-knowing teacher will continue to be a major presence in the second half of the season. “We'll definitely learn a lot more about Shane's agenda — the why, the where, and the how, the who — over the next couple of episodes.” We do know one thing for sure: Professor Shane is one super shady guy. He is currently teaching Bonnie — aka the most boring character of the season (come on you know it’s true!) — about a new type of magic called Expression. For those of you that are still in shock over the death of Mayor Lockwood, let me remind you: Expression is an unnatural form of witchcraft that requires the use of 12 human sacrifices in order to channel a darkness that is even worse than black magic. What’s most curious is the fact that Professor Shane helped get those 12 hybrids slaughtered/sacrificed, so does this mean that Expression becomes even more powerful? Plec explains that almost all of the answers that we need have already been revealed, “If you look back from the beginning of the season and sort of connect all the dots we've given you so far you can probably piece together quite a lot of the story.” Looks like this is a perfect excuse to binge-watch the first nine episodes again over our holiday break!
5. Happy Endings: Best News Ever!
Yes, it’s true that Happy Endings has without a doubt one of the quirkiest and most all around awesome casts on TV, but there is one person who is the hilarious cherry on top of a perfect sundae: Derrick. For those of who don’t know who Derrick is, I’m sorry but I don’t think we can be friends. (D-R-A-M-A. Drama!) Sigh. Okay, fine, watch this. Amahzing, right? Now that you all understand the perfection of Derrick, I am beyond excited to tell you that he’s coming back! A few months ago I visited the set of Happy Endings, and was overloaded with fantastical details of what’s to come — and now I can finally spill! One of my favorite people in this world, Adam Pally, reveals, “Derrick has a fun story line with me where I'm having trouble finding my gay identity, and Derrick takes me through the gay underworld on kind of a gay vision quest.” We’ve seen Max in the past as a bear — no, I’m, serious — but Pally says that our favorite freeloader is now evolving. “He was a cub, but the years are passing…. he's not quite a bear anymore, so he's gotta figure it out.” Casey Wilson adds, “Not quite a bear, not yet a woman.”
Another giggle-worthy episode that’s coming up features the best co-dependent girl and gubby (gay hubby) relationship on TV. Fans will soon be treated to an episode that Pally describes as “Penny and Max’s Requiem For a Dream storyline.” Wilson explains, “There's a real funny story coming up with us… Penny's coaching Max on how to not call a guy too much if you don't want to call him, and how to lose weight, which is to take NyQuil and drug yourself around 4pm so you sleep through the night. So you don't call anyone and you lose weight. And they become NyQuil addicts and never leave the apartment. And we think we look great.” Just you wait, NyQuil-ing is now going to be one of the hottest dieting trends of 2013. “I like when they treat Max and Penny like girlfriends," Pally says. "That to me is some fun stuff.” Well, to me, anything this show does is “fun stuff,” but I think that’s enough Happy Endings gushing for one day. Moving on!
6. Twitter Question: @NotATherapist What do you have on Shameless or House of Lies?
Eenie meenie miney… Shameless! Confession: I love this show. Like almost to an unhealthy level. When I watch it I suddenly feel like I’m just as much of a badass as the Gallaghers, and at any moment I’ll break a beer bottle and threaten to stab someone with it. But then I remember that I’m 5’3”, from Orange County, and have a Sprinkles cupcake subscription.
The Season 3 premiere of Shameless is filled with everything we’ve been missing these past 6 months: crazy characters, hilariously crude plotlines, and dead naked guys. (Oh yes, you read that last one correctly.) It’s been 137 days since the Gallaghers have seen their pathetic patriarch Frank, and it seems like Debbie is the only one who is desperate to see him. Jimmy is now a Rachel Ray-watching, cookie-baking Mr. Mom, but a visit from his past could ruin his chaotically perfect life with Fiona. Lip and Ian get into a inhaler-inducing chase with the police, and Veronica and Kevin are performing a racy and racist new web show. Madness! Also, get excited for one of the most exciting battle robot competitions you’ve ever seen.
Follow Leanne on Twitter @LeanneAguilera
—Additional reporting by Sydney Bucksbaum and Jean Bentley
[Photo Credit: The CW, ABC Family, ABC, USA Network, Showtime]
MORE:
Leanne’s Spoiler List: A Fiery 'Pretty Little Liars’ Premiere, A Badass Back On 'Revenge'
Leanne’s Spoiler List: ‘Gossip Girl’ Flashbacks and Fatalities, ‘Dexter’ Makes His Choice
Leanne's Spoiler List: 'True Blood' Wants Fresh Meat, 'Parenthood' Heads to Court, &amp; More!
From Our Partners:
’Jack Reacher’: The Beginner’s Guide To The New Tom Cruise Movie
’Les Miserables’ Unscripted: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway On Singing And Being Modest

Every year since 1927, Time magazine has paid tribute to the the man, woman, community, or concept that has bestowed unto the world the greatest amount of influence. Those branded with the title "Person of the Year" have ranged from activists, entrepreneurs, tyrants, religious leaders, and — quite frequently — American presidents. Just about every election year over the last half a century, the newly appointed POTUS has been deemed Time's most prominent figure. The publication continues its trend this year by naming Barack Obama 2012's Person of the Year.
And yeah, sure, we get it. He's the leader of the free world, he's striving towards achieving new ends in the realms of social, economic, and international issues, and he puts up an admittedly decent fight against Spider-Man. But to name Barry O, or any individual for that matter, as the sole "Person of the Year" is borderline discriminatory. After all, who's to say that your life is most directly affected by the status of your nation's distribution of liberty, its fiscal climate, its overseas relationships? Maybe you're the kind of person whose mind more readily treads to the equally biting territory of Marvel villains, or sex scandals. There's no shame in that.
As such, we're opening our minds a bit on the absolution connoted to Time's decree. With all of the honored individuals dubbed significant in 2012 by the likes of GQ, Barbara Walters, Entertainment Weekly, and Glamour, we have plenty of noteworthy people from which to pick. So who among them influenced you the most? Take your pick.
The Associated Press' Entertainer of the Year: Adele
What you talked about this year: Powerful ballads about overcoming emotional turmoil. How awesome the new James Bond movie was. Secret babies. Heartbreak.
Entertainment Weekly's Entertainer of the Year: Ben Affleck
What you talked about this year: Foreign affairs with the Middle East... specifically, circa the 1970s, and only those involving elaborate special operations wherein CIA agents pretend they're filmmakers. How this guy is really turning his career around. The question, "What's Casey doing these days?"
Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating Person of 2012: David Petraeus
What you talked about this year: Sex scandals. Old Jon Stewart clips. That episode of Seinfeld where George gets fired for having sex in the office.
Glamour's Man of the Year: Tom Hiddleston
What you talked about this year: The Avengers. Whether or not Thor 2 could be better than Thor. How you still haven't seen The Deep Blue Sea, but totally want to.
GQ's Man of the Year (and People's Sexiest Man of the Year): Channing Tatum
What you talked about this year: Shirtlessness, mostly.[Photo Credit: Time]
More:
20 Biggest Breakout Stars of 2012
Patti Smith Has Penned a Follow-up to 'Just Kids'
Bret Easton Ellis Tries to Apologize to Kathryn Bigelow, Fails Miserably
You Might Also Like:
20 Hot (and Horrifying) Movie Sex Scenes
20 Biggest Breakout Stars of the Year!

One of the most prevalent subgenres in horror is zombie cinema. You can’t throw a copy of the Necronomicom without hitting a zombie, preferably in the head. Even before George Romero turned Pittsburgh into the epicenter of the living dead uprising, these walking ghouls were turning up in scary stories and late night horror movies for generations. One diehard fan of midnight monster movies is Norman Babcock of the upcoming film ParaNorman. The good news for kids like Norman, and all us grownup(ish) fans of schlocky horror, is that there is plenty of off-the-wall zombie fare available on Netflix’s Watch Instantly service. Grab the popcorn, the case of highly-caffeinated soda, and a sturdy baseball bat or sharp machete. Your midnight zomb-o-thon is ready to roll… or at least shamble slowly forward.
Doghouse
There is a formula to horror films that has existed pretty much since the genre was born. The formula tends to dictate that women are the principle prey for a male antagonist. Jake West’s zomedy Doghouse, takes this time-honored tradition and turns it soundly on its rotting ear. A group of sleazy gentlemen, looking for salacious thrills, venture to a nearby village said to be overwhelmingly female. As it turns out, the town is entirely populated by women… undead women. What ensues is a wacky fight for survival as these helpless men are torn apart by ravenous zom-femmes. The irony and the gore are well worth the price of admission.
Sugar Hill
The song “Supernatural Voodoo Woman” perfectly kicks off this blaxploitation horror oddity. When a local businessman is murdered by the mob for refusing to buy into their protection scheme, his fiancée makes a deal with a voodoo priest in order to harness the power of the undead. She uses her zombie legion to exact her revenge on those who killed her lover. As silly and reminiscent of its time as it is, Sugar Hill is a lot of fun and actually hits upon the voodoo origins of the walking dead. It’s also fun to see a version of the character Baron Samedi, the king of graveyards, that isn’t connected to the James Bond universe.
Fido
Sure, we run from zombies or perhaps take a shot at destroying their brains if we feel particularly bold, but why have we never considered the idea of keeping them as pets? Set in the 1950s, this 2006 comedy Fido supposes an alternate past in which humans fought a great war with the zombies only to eventually develop the technology to pacify them and keep them as pets. The movie is a fantastic horror spin on the culture of Cold War paranoia that pervaded 1950s society. One of the best gags in the film is the fact that children are taught riffle marksmanship as a school subject, shooting to the playground rhyme, “In the brain and not the chest, headshots are the very best.”
Dead Snow
There’s only one thing worse than zombies: Nazi zombies. It’s not enough he wants to eat our brains, he’s a fascist too? This Norwegian horror flick follows a group of medical students vacationing at a cabin in the mountains. Unfortunately for them, the region harbors a dark past. During WWII, a group of occupying Nazis was chased into the wilderness by revolting villagers. The campers find themselves being pursued by the reanimated Third Reich. While Dead Snow also employs a fair bit of comedy, there is no mistaking its sinister tones. It’s gory, absurd, and everything zombie fans demand of their beloved subgenre.
Survival of the Dead
It would in fact be criminal for your late-night zombie movie marathon to conclude without featuring at least one film from the master himself. Continuing with the expansion of his own landmark undead apocalypse, George Romero takes the struggle for survival to an island populated by feuding Irish immigrants. The theme of the living being just as dangerous as the living dead underscores every beat of his original trilogy and is alive and well here. There is also a certain quality to Survival of the Dead that makes it seem like a horror western despite its contemporary setting. If nothing else, watch the movie for the moaning zombie heads on spikes. Wouldn’t that have made Disney World’s Haunted Mansion more interesting?
More:
Paranorman Review
ParaNorman Stars Anna Kendrick &amp; Leslie Mann On All Things Paranormal — VIDEO
Casey Affleck and McLovin in ParaNorman Trailer